1. Domestic Affairs
Chairman of the National Defense Commission Kim Jong-il sent
the letters of appreciation to soldiers for constructing fish farms (May 25),
workers for construction of the Kumsusan Memorial District (May 28), Kaechon
City railroad workers for maintaining the statues of Kim Il-sung and his son
Jong-il (May 30), and Jagang Province-based accountants for their loyalty to him
(May 27). He also presented gifts to meritorious agricultural engaged in land re
plotting projects workers (June 1).
Central Broadcasting Station highlighted the government
measures to improve residents' living standards. They included the operation of
a tooth brush factory in Pyongyang (May 26), the construction of 1,500 and 200
housing units near the Aprok River (May 27) and Kosung County (May 28), the
production of salt in Wonsan Bay (May 25) manufacture of a and new fabric (June
1).
A mass gymanstics display entitled Arirang drew over one
million spectators, including in the soldiers, workers, students and 700 foreign
guests and tourists from 50 countries, opening month,Central Broadcasting
Station reported May 31.
A meeting was held on May 29 to review the compilation
and publication of the 30-volume Large Korean Encyclopedia and decorate
encyclopedia-related workers with state honors. A modern theater was under
construction in Sariwon City, Pyongyang Broadcasting Station reported May 29.
2. South Korean Relations
North Korea strongly denounced the presidential candidate of
the major South Korean opposition party over the issue of interpreting article 2
of the June 15 Joint Declaration. North Korea insisted May 24 and 27 that the
article means that South and North Korea agreed on their reunification through
federation systems, but later, a spokesman for the North Korean Committee for
the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland mentioned in a statement on May 28
that the article was just a measure for the peaceful reunification. Rodong
Sinmun, news bulletin of the ruling Workers' Party, commented May 30 that South
and North Korea have not fully agreed on the matter. North Korea formed its working committee on May 27 to
prepare for the June 15, 2002 Grand Festival for National Reunification, and
accepted South Korea's offer to hold a civilian working contact in Mt. Geumgang
from May 31 to June 2. through a liaison officer in Panmunjom on May 28.
Meanwhile, North Korean journalists proposed a meeting with their counterparts
on the same venue on May 29.
The North Korean Red Cross Society gave a notice by cable
to the South Korean Red Cross on May 30 that North Korea would release water
from its Mt. Geumgang dam downstream into the South Korean territory. The (North
Korean) Asia-Pacific Peace Committee also gave such notice to Rep. Park Geun-hye
of South Korean on May 31.
Pyongyang Broadcasting Station propagandized on May 25
that South Korea attempted to escalate tension on the Korean peninsula with
provocation by tanks within the DMZ. The U.N. Command announced May 27 that
three North Korean soldiers intruded into the DMZ on May 26.
3. External affairs
A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry expressed the mitigated
government stance on the U.S. designation of North Korea as a terrorism sponsor.
He said in an interview with the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) on May 24 that
the U.S. designation is not worth of criticism from North Korea. However Rodong
Sinmun urged the withdrawal of the U.S. troops from South Korea in a commentary
on May 27, while the government maintained its uncompromising stance by
releasing a "joint white paper on the U.S. military massacre of Korean civilians
in the early days of the Korean War" on May 25.
A delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture (led by
Minister Kim Chang-sik) left Pyongyang for Sweden on May 28 while a Chinese
youth delegation paid a friendly visit to North Korea the same day. |
